Linares Commemorates International Romani Day with Institutional Act and River Ceremony

The Municipal Corporation of Linares, alongside Romani community representatives, has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion and historical recognition.

Image of flower petals floating on water during a symbolic ceremony.
IA

Image of flower petals floating on water during a symbolic ceremony.

The city of Linares has celebrated International Romani Day with an extraordinary plenary session and the traditional River Ceremony, reaffirming its commitment to the inclusion and historical recognition of this community.

The Municipal Corporation of Linares, led by its mayor and the spokespersons of the political groups, played a central role in a special plenary session. During this event, an institutional manifesto was read, highlighting the identity and valuable contribution of the Romani people to Linares society.
The event saw active participation from representatives of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano and the Federation of Romani Women's Associations (Fakali). Their interventions served to recall the pending challenges in the pursuit of equality and the fight against discrimination. The solemnity of the plenary reached its peak with the moving performance of Gelem Gelem, the international Romani anthem, whose melodies resonated in the Municipal Palace as a symbol of resistance and hope.
Following the institutional session, the commemoration moved to the fountain in the Plaza de la Constitución for the traditional River Ceremony. In this deeply symbolic act, attendees released flower petals into the water. This gesture evoked the historical exodus of the Romani people throughout the centuries and paid heartfelt tribute to all victims of persecution.